Module 6 lesson 3

Module 5

Lesson 3

Student’s Book pages 63–64

                              

Grammar

The Present Perfect Simple with for, since and time expressions

 

 

Present perfect with "for" and "since"

Using the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration, with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time. FOR and SINCE can also both be used with the past perfect. 

 

Present perfect with FOR

She has lived here for twenty years.
We have taught at this school for a long time.
Alice has been married for three months.
They have been at the hotel for a week.

 

Present perfect with SINCE

She has lived here since 1980.
We have taught at this school since 1965.
Alice has been married since March 2nd.
They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

 

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb.

We use the present perfect:

• for something that started in the past and continues in the present:

They've been married for nearly fifty years.
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

• when we are talking about our experience up to the present:

I've seen that film before.
I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books and he is working on another one.

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present:

My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.

and we use never for the negative form:

Have you ever met George?
Yes, but I've never met his wife.

 

Be careful!
We do not use the present perfect with  adverbials which refer to a finished past time:
yesterday last week/month/year in 2017 when I was younger etc. I have seen that film yesterday. We have just bought a new car last week. When we were children we have been to California.
but we can use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to a time which is not yet finished:
today this week/month/year now that I am 18 etc. Have you seen Helen today? We have bought a new car this week.

 

Present perfect vs. simple past

You must always use the present perfect when the time of an action is not important or not specified.
You must always use the simple past when details about the time or place that an action occured are given or requested.

Compare :

Present perfect	Simple past
I have lived in Lyon.	I lived in Lyon in 1989.
They have eaten Thai food.	They ate Thai food last night.
Have you seen 'Othello'?	Where did you see 'Othello'?
We have been to Ireland.	When did you go to Ireland?